We have a plan!

Finally! This has been the longest wait ever. Barry has gone over 2 months without any treatment. The treatment suggested was bio-chemotherapy that was to be done in Riverside CA at a Kaiser facility. I read about it and the side effects were horrendous and it wasn't even gonna be super effective. What DID happen is we got signed up for a phase III clinical trial at St. Mary's in San Franciso. What's awesome is that it is so close to home. Barry had to test postive for a B-RAF gene. Kaiser actually did the genetic testing without us having to hound them about it. We had asked specifically about this test earlier knowing that they were developing a drug specific for this type of gene. After a loooong wait and numerous inquiries, we were told we were eligible for the trial. So then came the waiting....waiting for an appointment at St.Mary's for the interview with the doctors. It finally came on the 19th of May. It took all day. We were told to bring the tumor blocks with us because Roche (the pharmaceutical company backing the trial) had to do their own testing to make sure it matche with Kaisers. After we had the interview, and told yes we were definetely eligible, we had to wait for the test to come back from Roche. That took a week. Then after THAT came back okay, Barry had to get a whole battery of tests done before we could begin the trial. CAT scans, ekg, blood tests, brain scan etc. So with all THAT finally done, we have an appointment on Tuesday coming up to see what drug he is going to receive. Its either gonna be the new drug PLX4032 thats specific for his gene, or DTIC or dacarbazine, which is the standard of care already...its a chemo with yucky side effects. Obviously I know which one I would prefer. The PLX 4032 has had great results, but I don't pretend to know which one God is gonna give him. This is totally random. A computer chooses, not a person. So I have everyone I know praying that whatever drug he receives that it be the RIGHT drug....the one that is gonna do him the most good. Maybe its the DTIC....I don't know. I just know that we have gone 2 and half months with no treatment and Barry looks pale, underweight and he's always exhausted. But he is always in good spirts. That is what I love about him. I love him so. We've almost been married 34 years (coming up in July). I don't want to lose this beautiful man who went out an got me a grandfather clock that I have always wanted because he was afraid he wouldn't be around for Christmas this year. He was gonna spend a whole load of $$, but he talked to the lady who was selling it and told her just that and she just GAVE him the clock. Gave it to him!! its beautiful...doesn't work perfectly, but its good enough for me. it chimes, it ticks, it tocks and with every chime I think of how much I love my husband.